Do Hobbies Make Good Business?

Here's my take on the subject. My main question is this:

Are you in it for the money, or the hobby?

Now let us look at the characteristics of a hobby and a business:

Hobby -
- Something that you are personally interested in
- Something that you are willing to sacrifice time and money for
- Something that you do for the sake of its enjoyment
- Something..of which it's 'essense' is very important
- Something that you have passion for
- Dictionary definition: an activity or interest pursued for pleasure or relaxation and not as a main occupation: Her hobbies include stamp-collecting and woodcarving.

Business -
- Something..of which it's purpose is to make a profit
- An entity that supposedly brings a product to the market place to make a profit
- An entity that supposedly solves problems to make a profit

Do you see what I see?

In summary, a hobby is an activity you do for pleasure while a business is there for the purpose of making money.

Well, that's great you say.. doesn't that mean I'm mixing pleasure with money making?

Yes...and no...

That's what makes this question so important - are you in it for the Money, or the Hobby?

If you are in it for the money, then I guess you'd have a problem. If you look past the rosy picture of people earning money doing what they love, then you'd notice that most hobby-based start-ups have one thing in common.

They start small and more often than not, remain small.

Read: I'm not saying that hobby based businesses are not profitable. I'm saying that more often than not, they stay small.

So if you are into Money, or Big Money for that matter, then I suppose you'd be better of looking to start a Big Business as opposed to a Hobby Business.

Well ok, why can't I have a Big Hobby Business?

Not that you can't...it will be difficult though.

Why? Well, the focus of a business is to make profits, not pleasure.

So, in order to make a business big, certain sacrifices have to be made in order to keep profits high. And that may be a problem for one whose focus is on the Hobby.

For one, you notice how certain hobbies nowadays seem a little...commercialised? It's as if they lost their flavour...their essense...that 'thing' that made it special. You can feel and almost taste the profit-making decisions made for that product. That part that was replaced because it was not 'cost effective'. Another modified so that it will appeal to the larger market segment. That rule changed so that more people will participate.

Let me use a real life example: the Buggati Veyron..the world's most powerful car.

It is a symbol of passion and engineering excellence. It is however, not very good business. Each car, costing approximately £5,000,000 to manufacture, is sold at a loss.

So, who pays for the passion? Volkswagon.

Well, Volkswagon's focus is to make money. So that they do, and because they do, they are able to fund the passionate endeavour of making the wold's first 1000 horsepower car.

Arguably, it makes business sense because Volkswagon will improve it's prestige by being the associated with Bugatti.

However, the point is, not that you can't make big money with hobbies, that you need to know what you want so you'd know what to expect. So, don't be surprised when you're not making as much money as you like in a hobby based business and likewise, don't be surprised when you're making a lot of money but realised that the hobby itself has lost it's essense because of it.

Beware of Loved Ones Peddling Products!

An Excerpt from: Street Smart Network Marketing: A No-Nonsense Guide for Creating the Most Richly Rewarding Lifestyle You Can Possibly Imagine
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Back in 1996, in the Toronto Star newspaper, a lady by the name of Rita Smith wrote a nasty anti-Network Marketing article with above title, "Beware of loved ones peddling products".

In it, she cried foul about networkers approaching friends and family with their products and opportunity. She seem to have refered to it as a despicable concept.

This was the reply of reknown network marketer, John Milton Fogg:

"...If you were to open a traditional business, say a shop of some kind, wouldn't your first customers likely be friends and family? That's only natural. With the exception of some dysfunctional relationship problems, who's more supportive to your success than the people who love you? Why would it be any different in Network Marketing?

Do some MLM people abuse their close relationships? Of course, but that is not the fault of Network Marketing any more than the institution of marriage is to be held responsible for the heartbreak of child abuse.

It is unfortunate that Ms. Smith has chosen such a one-sided view of Network Marketing.

Whether you are approached by a loved one offering a great product they have thoroughly enjoyed - perheps even one that has changed their life in some dramatic way - or, a dear friend encourages you to earn some extra income by joining him or her in a fun, easy, creative and enjoyable business adventure, please, be open to what's being offered. Profitting from our relationships - both giving and receiving - is one of the most rewarding and worthy of all human endeavors. To have that profit be expressed in the form of cash money as it is in Network Marketing...well, what a nice innovation!

Perhaps you could look at money as simply a symbol or measure of genuine value. When you do that, you might easily see that giving money to another person is an exchange of something more than dollars. You might even be able to see it as an expression of love. Looking at it that way, Rita Smith, if you were my sister, I'd do all I could to involve you in Network Marketing and make you a millionaire."

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Interesting how when the circumstances of traditional businesses are applied to network marketing, many people respond differently isn't it?

That's for another topic, for another time ^^

(How to Improve Your Sales)...It's not about you!

Heyz,

Just finished 'The Millionaire Mindset' seminar 2 days ago, it was fantastic!

I aws surprised by how much anger I had bottled up about certain things that have probably hindered my growth these last few months.

Huh? Emotion? Millionaire? Link?

Will share next time ^^

Anyways...

I would like to talk about a fundamental mistake that people make when doing sales.

Yeap. IT IS NOT ABOUT YOU.

It is about your customer. Or the friend you are trying to convince that durain is not smelly. Or the boss you are trying to impress to give you a raise. Or.....

Point is, to get something you want, you must give them something THEY want.

I will use my experience in selling computers as an example.

For me personally, I want performance. That means I'm willing to pay a bit more. Size and weight doesn't really matter and must have a graphics card because I play games.

Now, I meet a customer, do I introduce the computer that I love and try to sell them that? NO!

What if he wanted something simple to surf the internet and watch movies with? Well, what if I was adamant that the computer I liked was good for him? Do you think he would buy it for me?

NO!

Because I was trying to fulfill MY needs, not HIS.

What he would have probably wanted was something cheap, not too high end with an average sized screen.

I was pushing for the top of the line system with all the bells and whistles thrown in.

Does the above situation sound like you?

So how do we find out what they want?

Ask Questions!

In this case it would have been like: Home or office use? What do you use it for? Any specific brands that you'd like? What's your budget like?

With such questions, don't you think I'd be able to find a more suitable recommendation that will suit HIS needs, make HIM happy and encourages him to BUY from me?

Same thing for arguements with friends, or anything that requires communicating with humans for that matter.

It is not only about us.

The MLM debate on Stomp

Have a look. I'm shadowoflight and most of the posts are towards the end.

It's quite an eye-opener when you consider the many views people have about this industry.

http://talkback.stomp.com.sg/forums/showthread.php?t=17611

Gratitude Dance!

Hey Folks

Just to help you along with having 'Gratitude' =D

Aim High And Get More Or Be Grateful With What We Have?

This has always been one of those issues that I've always had problems with.

On one hand, I have very large ambitions. I want material and immaterial growth. I want to live a life worthy of the gods.

On the other hand, we must never take things for granted. We should be happy with what we have. We shouldn't be greedy.

How to deal with this conundrum?

Bob Proctor summed it up pretty nicely:

"My grandma told me I should be satisfied with what I have. Guess what? Grandma was wrong. I should be 'Happy' with what I have but never be satisfied. It's is dissatisfaction that gave us the electrical bulb, air travel and the internet. Dissatisfaction is a creative state" - Bob Proctor

So, for those of you out there who are on the same road with me, we must remember to have genuine gratitude for the things that we have and the things that have happened to us, good or bad.

Hope this clears the conflict between ambition and gratitude.

Ciaos!

My Apologies

Oh dear...

I've made a grave mistake.

I've been trying trying to save people.

As a result of that, I've focused a lot of my energy on blasting and clamping down on a sunny company.

I tripped.

I'm sorry.

I was thinking with a scarcity mindset.

While I have been focusing on the sheep that led itself to be slaughtered, I forgot about the rest that have been looking to me for guidance. I've been trying to prevent people from being scammed as opposed to showing others who wants a real opportunity, the opportunity.

God...I didn't realise how prevalent sarcasm and negativity was in my previous posts.

I've been focusing on preventing the bad as opposed to creating the good.

I also forgot that, for some reason, the company that I'm involved in, it's very easy on those who thought they have lost all hope in the industry.

Nope..no way..I didn't see the article about the founder of sunshine losing out on an award.

Whoot. My company just won another international, unbiased, third party award. No advertisements required.

Alright. Changing gears from reverse to forward.

Isn't life interesting?

Onwards...to glory!

James Phang's student was the founder of what?!

Cost Lab anyone?

Those of you in the network marketing industry or are pretty business savvy might have come across this company the last few years. I believe it had an office within the CBD area, though I can't confirm.

Apparently it was a failure.

Based on what I was told, the system they use is uncannily similar to that of Sunshine Empire's, difference being they had different products and that they guaranteed payouts. The latter difference being emphasized in black and white.

Sunshine, I believe, states that payouts are not guaranteed. In emphasized in black and white.

Hmm...

I was also recently informed that the founder of Cost Lab was (is?) a student of James Phang, the founder of Sunshine Empire.

Which leads me to another point...

I have a friend who has recently become a pretty big success in Amway. About two years ago, we talked about some of these schemes starting and failing and he told me, matter-of-a-factly, that he didn't mind participating. Why? Because:

1. He knew a few of those people who started such schemes and
2. As a result, he was always one of the 'Founding Members' and was guaranteed to make money.

He noted that many such money games were started by the same people.

He also reached the same conclusion as me: that if you want to join such games, join with eyes wide open and if what you are offered is in fact in its early stages, you can take the risk and join it. We also agreed that, since people are going to lose their money anyway, might was well lose it to you.

One of such companies he joined early in? Swisscash.
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Update 07/11/07

From the Straits Times -

Added to the list of failures:
Number One Product (NOP) - marketing arm for an Indonesian resort project, Magic Kingdom, which was never built.

Hmm...sounds familiar..

Greedy greedy...

It's very ironic:

When presented with a legitimate Network Marketing opportunity, one of the most common objections you get is "eee...it's a pyramid scam lar"

But...

When the same person comes across one...promising high returns without effort in a short amount of time? "but it's a fixed payout! and stable returns! don't need to recruit/stock-up!"

Then...

When it's finally over, they ask why'd they do it in the first place.

Remember people..greed breeds stupidity.

So be smart.
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With regards to such schemes...I was talking to a few of my friends and we agreed on one thing: if other people's gonna fall for it, it's always better to let their money fall into your hands.

Note the difference in attitude. It's about diverting the money to you...since it's got to be diverted elsewhere anyway. You can always do something good with that money.

This is purely for 1. those who wish to participate and 2. in schemes that have yet to mature.

Sunshine Empire - Newsflash

Guys..

Remember what I warned about Sunshine Empire?

It was announced on The Straits Times, 24/10/07, that it has been listed on the Monetary Authority of Singapore's (MAS) 'Warning' list for operating a potentially illegal pyramid.

I have been to the presentations.

I am in fact very impressed by their concept.

However a few things bug me, mainly:

* Essentially 'guaranteed' profits (you can give it many names.)

* Nothing wrong with an investment company, but paying out profits when the 'investments' are still incuring costs and have not even generated revenue?

* An over-priced callback service

* An understated emphasis on stocking up on 'callback service credits' to produce more profits.

* It's almost as if the callback service is just an excuse for people to put their money in. "We do have a product!"

Update, 29/01/08: - It seems like they have had quite a few products over the years. I've heard of them selling health products, and even shampoo. Fancy buying $10,000 worth of shampoo! Anyway, here's my point - it seems like their ultimate focus is to simply make money, evident in their changing of products. Nothing wrong with that, though it makes you a little uneasy isn't it?

* They recently increased their entry pricing and reduced their payouts. They say that this is to ensure longevity of the company. Which is hypocritical because:-
1. It goes against one of the basic principals of MLM, which is that everyone is given an 'equal chance' to reach the top. This act has essentially made it more difficult for newer distributors to join and grow.
2. It just proves the point that payout is made from continued recruitment of people.

* It looks and feels uncannily like a Ponzi Scheme

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That being said, I also know of a quote, which basically says that truth comes in 3 stages. First, it is ridiculed. Second, it is violently opposed. Third, it is accepted as self evident.

So I concede: despite the MAS warning listing, it is still possible that it is in fact a revolutionary concept in doing business. It is also possible that it's similarities with previous pyramids have cast a light of doubt over it.

Then comes another sticking problem: if it is too good to be true, it probably is.

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update : 25/10/07

check the comments section for Sunshine Empire's point of view